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Thermal Degradation of Polymers |
Welcome!Welcome to the Polymer Minute, Zeus’s email newsletter designed to bring engineers and R&D; professionals the latest information on high performance polymer extrusions. In this issue we discuss how plastics degrade with rising temperature. Join us as we explore the different options that you have available for your next project. If you would like to discuss fluoropolymers with one of our technical account representatives, I encourage you to contact us - just call toll-free 1-866-272-4710, or email support@zeusinc.com. Enjoy the newsletter! IntroductionOne of the limiting factors in the application of plastics at high temperatures is their tendency to not only become softer but also to thermally degrade. Thermal degradation can present an upper limit to the service temperature of plastics as much as the possibility of mechanical property loss. Indeed unless correctly prevented, significant thermal degradation can occur at temperatures much lower than those at which mechanical failure is likely to occur. |
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Thermal degradation of polymers is ‘molecular deterioration as a result of overheating’. At high temperatures the components of the long chain backbone of the polymer can begin to separate (molecular scission) and react with one another to change the properties of the polymer. It is part of a larger group of degradation mechanisms for polymers that can occur from a variety of causes such as:
In general, the ability of a plastic to resist these degradation causes is called the ‘stability’ of the plastic and in this article we will concentrate on the process of thermal degradation with particular emphasis on thermal degradation in service as opposed to thermal degradation during processing. All polymers will experience some type of degradation during service and this will result in a steady decline in their properties. In fact, degradation is inevitable and the resulting chain reaction will accelerate unless the cycle is interrupted in some manner - the only real variable is how long it is going to take for thermal degradation to become evident and result in a loss in properties that is significant enough for the end-user to notice. The Results of Thermal DegradationThe chemical reactions involved in thermal degradation lead to physical and optical property changes relative to the initially specified properties. Thermal degradation generally involves changes to the molecular weight (and molecular weight distribution) of the polymer and typical property changes include:
The dominant mechanism of degradation and the degree of resistance to degradation depends on the application and the polymer concerned. The results are the same for most polymer families and significant property degradation can occur when thermal degradation does occur. Polypropylene is very susceptible to thermal degradation, even at normal temperatures and must always be protected against thermal degradation. Thermal degradation causes chain scission and the reduced chain length reduces the molecular weight. This can considerably change the mechanical properties leading to highly reduced ductility and embrittlement and possible service failure. Polyethylenes are also susceptible to thermal degradation and the resulting chain branching and cross-linking reduces the melt flow and produces embrittlement and color changes. PVC is also very susceptible to thermal degradation, particularly during processing, and can suffer from extensive property loss if not adequately protected against thermal degradation during processing. Heat stabilizers are a vital part of any PVC blend. In general, the fluoropolymers processed by Zeus (such as PTFE, FEP, PFA, PVDF, THV, ETFE and ECTFE) have excellent intrinsic thermal degradation properties because of the strength of the carbon - fluorine (C-F) bonds in the long chain backbone. As a general rule the fluoropolymers do not require the use of additional stabilizers to protect them against thermal degradation. These polymers are amongst the best available for resistance to long-term thermal degradation as well as having excellent high temperature mechanical performance properties. Other polymers processed by Zeus (such as PEEK™ and UltemŽ) also have excellent resistance to thermal degradation because of the strong bonds in their long chain backbone that restrict movement . These polymers also perform exceptionally well in long-term thermal degradation testing. The Mechanism of Thermal DegradationMost types of degradation follow a similar basic pattern. The conventional model for thermal degradation is that of an autoxidation process which involves the major steps of initiation, propagation, branching, and termination. Initiation Propagation Termination A general mechanism for thermal degradation is shown below:
In some polymers it is also possible to get ‘branching’ of the polymer chains, this is where two polymer chains become linked together and results in cross-linking and embrittlement of the polymer. Protecting Plastics with StabilizersPlastics can be protected from thermal degradation by incorporating stabilizers into them. Stabilizers are used to keep the polymer chains and the original molecular structure intact and therefore properties such as strength, stiffness and toughness can be retained over a longer period. Stabilizers can work in a variety of ways but in most cases they work by interrupting the thermal degradation cycle to slow down or prevent the cycle from completing. Some stabilizers work by ‘mopping up’ the available free radicals (radical scavengers). In this case the stabilizer reacts rapidly with the available free radicals to produce another much less active free radical and thus slow the process down.
Protecting plastics with radical scavenger stabilizers Other groups of stabilizers exist for specific materials and applications and there are many different chemical families of stabilizers. In most cases a given plastic will incorporate a mix of stabilizers that are designed to work as a system to give the desired properties for the application. This mix will be designed specifically for the polymer being used and the requirements of the application. The mixture will also be designed to be applied at a specific concentration – over dosing stabilizers can in fact be detrimental to the plastic and the effect of the stabilizer. The expert advice of the stabilizer manufacturer needs to be sought to get the best protection and balance of effectiveness and cost. Testing Plastics for Thermal Stability and Predicting LifetimesTesting of plastics for thermal stability is subject to the same concerns as any accelerated test method. In general, accelerated testing involves high temperatures over short times and the results are then extrapolated back to the lower service temperature and longer time of the real application. In this situation there is always a need to balance the time taken for the test against the error that is naturally involved in extrapolating back to the service temperature.
The assumed mechanism is generally an Arrhenius model (first proposed by the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius) and a typical plot is shown at right. Predicting a lifetime using this type of plot assumes that the mechanism is a standard thermally controlled one and that there is only one type of mechanism involved in the degradation. For stabilizing against heat degradation these may not be correct assumptions. In some cases, thermal degradation shows no effect for some time and when it occurs the onset of significant thermal degradation can be very rapid, i.e. there is a gestation time before anything appears to happen and then the degradation is both rapid and catastrophic. This can occur particularly when the stabilizer is a sacrificial one - when it is completely exhausted then degradation can occur unchecked. In this case the mechanism is not a completely standard thermally controlled mechanism. In other cases, the test temperature affects the operation of the stabilizer. Accelerated testing at high temperatures can then give misleading results if the stabilizer itself is not operating correctly or is operating in a different way to the way it would operate at normal service temperatures. Ideally testing would be carried out at the application temperature but the need for rapid results means that this rarely happens.The result of this is that accelerated aging tests for thermal degradation need to be considered very carefully and the results interpreted with equal care. Case Study: Resistance to Heat and the EnvironmentEngineers and designers are tasked with developing solutions to address a wide variety of issues in the automotive industry. During the course of development, materials selection plays a vital role in the process of addressing the issues of the various obstacles at hand. For example, in a tightly compartmented space near the engine manifold, temperatures regularly exceeded 190F. Polyprophylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) were being used due to their ability to handle temperatures in this area. As automobile engines became larger, more powerful, and hotter, these materials were no longer the optimal choice. A material that could resist cracking, peeling and handle increased stresses was needed. PP and PE have been replaced in some instances by Zeus materials in newly designed vehicles because of the need for materials which could withstand high temperatures near the engine manifold. Materials such as Zeus' PTFE have excellent dimensional stability against changes in the environment and are unresponsive to chemicals they could be exposed to - such as gas, oil and other corrosive elements often found in the environment where automobiles are used. SummaryThermal degradation of plastics at elevated temperatures is an inevitable event and for many polymers it can be a significant limitation to the application service life of a product. Even at moderate service temperatures long-term thermal degradation can represent a limitation to the service life. Despite this, the use of a base polymer that is naturally highly resistant to thermal degradation (such as one of the fluoropolymers) will enable plastic products to be used at elevated temperatures with confidence that they will work as designed. If the use of a naturally resistant polymer is not possible then the correct selection and use of a relevant stabilizer package can also considerably extend the service life of a plastic part. Request Samples
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